Driving mechanism.



A. W. ALTORFER.

DRIVING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.2s. 1913.

Patented 0011.26, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

A. W. ALTORFE'R.

DRIVING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG'.29, 19%3. I Llfi ws Patented 0015.26,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

lUNITE @T@ T lltjll i.

ALPI-IEUS \V. ALTORFER, 0F ROANOKE, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO ALTO'RFER BROS. 00.. OF ROANOKE, ILLINOIS, A COPARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF HENRY ALTORFER, SILAS H. ALTORFER, AND ALPI-IEUS W. ALTORFER,

D RIVING MECHANISM.

LIlIiSfiQS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (lot. 26, 191.5.

Application filed August 29, 1918. Serial No. 787,304.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALrmaUs IV. AL- TORFEI,'21 citizen of the United States, residing at Roanoke, in the county of lVoodford and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to a driving mechanism.

One of the objects of the present invention is to improve the driving mechanism of power washing machines and like structures.

The invention consists essentially of a driving shaft which may be adapted to receive its power from any suitable motor or other source; gearing associated with the washer elements and carried by or attached to the movable lid or cover of the washing machine, and connections between said driving shaft and said gearing, said connections including clutch parts adapted to be disconnected when the lid or cover of themachine is raised, whereby the washer elements are inoperative when the lid or cover of the machine is raised, while at the same time the driving shaft is in operation, and which said washer elements may be pic :d in operation by the lowering of the lid or cover of the machine, such movement setting said clutch parts.

In the drawings :I*igure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of washing machine, embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a sectional detail showing a part of the driving connections between the driving shafts and the gearing for operating the washer elements; Fig. 3 is an end View, looking at the right hand end of Fig. 1, showing in dotted lines the lid or cover of the washing machine raised, in which position the clutch has been disconnected, breaking the power between the driving shaft and washer elements, and Fig. i is a view, similar to Fig.3, except that a modified form of driving connection, including a clutch is shown.

Iiike characters responding parts throughout the figures.

llly improved driving mechanism for washing machines is applicable to all forms of machines where it is desired to operate a the washer elements by power, such as an of reference denote corelectric motor, water motor, gasolene engine and the like, including not only that tvpe of machine shown in the drawings where a platform machine is illustrated. but also to the stave leg type and all other and various forms of washing machines.

In illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, I have shown it applied to that type of machine, including the plat form 1, which may be of any suitable length and arranged to support the washer tub 2, and one or more rinse tubs or other recep t'acles, not shown. The platform 1 has supporting legs 3, at its corners. The detail structure of theplatform, its legs, braces, etc., is not material, as no claim is made to such details.

In Patents Nos. 1,0lT,11S and LOlTJlf) issued to me on the tenth day of December, 1912, there is illustrated a type of machine and supporting platform. somewhat similar to that disclosed herein. including a movable or slidable wringcr support, illustrated herein in dotted lines in Fig. l. and referred to generall as l; the wringer mechanism adapted to receive its power from the driving shaft 5. In my application filed on the 11th day of September 1912, for improvements in combined power washing and wringing mechanism, bearing Serial No. 719. 33, I also show a machine and supporting platform, including the movable. wringer support.

The washing machine 2 may be provided with any desired or preferred form of washer elements, not shown, the same adapted to be actuated by any suitable operating means, preferably supported by or attached to the lid or cover of the washer 2, inclu-dingthe shaft (3. The lid or cover is suitably hinged to adaptit to be raised or lowered, and when raised will pcrn'zit access to' the interior of the washer and will raise the washer elements into inoperative position.

On the end of the shaft 6 is supported, m a suitable manner, a bracket or housin 7. said bracket or housing confining a pair of meshing bevel gear wheels 8 and '9,'the gear wheel 8 carriedby the shaft 6 and the gear wheel 9 carried by a shaft 10. The shaft l0 has a bearing in the bra ket or lit-using T and is also carried and has longitudinal inovcz'ncnt in an elongated glib eeve'oi bearing 11, said sleeve orbearing "-11 forming a part of or secured in any .-'suitable manner to a bracket or-housing 12 carried on the driving shaft 5. The bracket 5 or housing 12 confines a pair of meshing I bevel gear wheels 13 and 1 1. The gear wheel'13 carried by a short shaft 15 having abearing in said bracket orhousing 12 and extending up into the. sleeveor bearing 11,- and the gear 14; being carried on a driving shaft'fi.

'.On the upper end ,of theshaft 15 is caried a clutch part16 and on the lower end f the shaft 10 is arranged a clutch part 17 with the clutch part 16toinsure the transmission of power from the shaft 5 to the shaft 6, when desired. I

The bracket or housing has a' swingable relation with respect to the shaft 5, as he sleeve 11 andfthe shaft 10 must swing in an arc of a circle, whose center is the axis iiof the shaft 5, when the lid or cover '25 of the washer is. raised. The raising. of the lid or cover will move the shaft 10 lon gitudinally in the sleeve 11, and suclrmove- .fInent will disconnect or separate the clutch part 17' from theclutch part 16, placing the washer elements in an inoperative position.- XTWhen the lid or cover 25 is lowered and closed,ythe shaft 10 and sleeve 11 will be "swung back into their normal positions and the clutch part 1'7 on thelowe'r end of the -shaft .10 will move into clutch engaging shaft .5 is being operated power will be transmitted through the gears 18. and 14,

I ,the shafts15 and 10, the gears 8 and 9 and the shaft 6', to the washer. elements.

Onthe shaft 5' is a pulley 18, or equivalent member for receiving power from any suitable motor or other driving means.

.In-Figs. 1, 2 and3, the sleeve or bearing .ll does not rotate, butin Fig. 1 is shown a construction where a similar sleeve or bearing 11 does rotate. In this construc- 3 tion the'gear wheel 13; is connected .directly to the lower end of the sleeve '11, which has a bearing in the bracket or housing 12, and the upper end of said sleeve 11 is provided ing somewhatsimilar to the shaft 10 iscarried and movable in thesleeve 11 in manner similar to the shaft 10 in the sleeve 11, and on said shaft 10, adjacent the bracket i f-l -"or housing .7, is carried a clutch part 17*. When the. lid or cover 25 is raised, the shaft '10, the sleeve 11* and bracket 12 will be swung'on the shaft 5, while at thesame time the shaft 10 will move longitudinally inthe sleeve 11*, disconnecting or. separating clutch part 17. from the clu tgh" part 16".

% .gTheshaft 10 onits lower end may be pro- 'vided witha head 18 fitting reasonably snug in the sleeve 11 so as to center the -shaft in,

adapted to have .a clutch engaging relation I relation withthe clutch part 16,"when, if the with a. clutch part-16 The shaft 10*, be-

the sleeve and guide the shaft in its move- .all gearing may be housed and in constant meshing relation, and all clutch throwing levers and similar parts are done away with. The raising of the lid or cover of the machine, accomplishes the double result of dis connecting the clutch part or power between the driving means and the washer elements, and. of moving the washer elements into inoperative position to enable aperson to remove clothes or other materials from said washer and for putting others therein.

Attention is called to the patent issued to me 011 July 1, 1913, No. 1,066,070 as disclosing a type of machine to which the present improvements might easily be applied.

lVhat I claim is 1.- In a driving mechanism, a machine, a driving shaft, an operating means for said machine, said operating means being so.

supported that it may be raised from an operative positlon to an inoperative position, a driving mechanism between said driving shaft and said operating means, in-

cluding clutch parts; the connection and disti'on of said clutch parts being controlled by moving said operating means.

3. In a driving mechanism, a machine having a hinged member, a driving part mounted on said hinged member, and movable therewitlna driving shaft, a driving a mechanism between said shaft and said drivmg part, including clutch parts, said clutch parts being in operative relation when said hinged member 1s 1n one position, and

adapted to be disconnected when said hinged member is moved intoanother position.

4. In a driving mechanism, a machine, operating means mounted on said machine, a driving shaft, driving mechanism between said shaftand'sa'id operating means, including clutch parts, one of said clutch parts andthe operating means for said machine I being adapted to be moved together, said clutch parts being normally in operative relation, the movement of said operating means serving to break the. operative relation between .the clutch parts.

5. In a. 'driving mechamsm, a machine .havinga hinged member, a driving 'part mounted on ,said'hinged member, and mov- .ableit-hereivith, a driving shaft, clutch controlled gearing interposed between said shaft 9 of said hinged member.

6. In a driving mechanlsm, a machlne, an

operating means for the machine, said operating means being movable to operative and inoperative positions, a driving shaft, a bracket on said driving shaft, gearing oper- I ated by said shaft and confined within said bracket which is swingable on said shaft, driving connections between said gearing and said operating means, including clutch parts, one of said clutch parts and said operating means being so associated that they may be moved to inoperative positions in unison.

7.' In a driving mechanism, a machine and supporting means therefor, said machinehaving a hinged member which is adapted to be raised and lowered, an operatmg shaft ]Olll11lld on said hmged member, a wheel carried on said shaft, a driving shaft journaled on said machine support, means onsaid driving shaft adapted to receive power from a suitable source, a wheel on said driving shaft, a driving mechanism operatively connected with the wheels on said driving and operating shafts, and clutch parts suitably located between said driving shaft and said operating shaft, for controlling the operation of the latter.

S. In a driving mechanism, a machine and. supporting means therefor, said machine having a. hinged member which is adapted to be raised and lowered, an operating shaft journaled 011 said hinged member, a gear wheel carried on said shaft, a driving shaft journaled on said machine support, a gear wheel 011 said driving shaft,,a sleeve disposed between said driving and operating shafts, a shaft carried in said sleeve, said shaft adapted to be driven from the gear wheel on the driving shaft and transmit motion to the gear wheel on the operating shaft, and clutch parts for controlling the operation of the shaft in the sleeve, said clutch parts being controlled by the raising and lowering of said hinged member.

9. In a driving mechanism, a machine and supporting means therefor, said machine having a hinged member which is adapted to be raised and lowered, an operating shaft journaled on said hinged member, a bracket swingably carried on said shaft, a driving shaft journaled on said machine support, a bracket swingably carried on said driving shaft, a sleeve extending up from said last.

mentioned bracket in the direction of the bracket on the operating shaft, a shaft journaled in the bracket on the operating shaft and movable longitudinally in said sleeve, gearing for operating said shaft in the sleeve from said driving shaft, said gearing being confined by said bracket on the driving shaft, gearing for ope 'ating the operating shaft from the shaft in the sleeve, said gearing being confined by said bracket on the operatlng shaft, and clutch parts between the gearing for operating the shaft in the sleeve and the gearing for operating the operating shaft, said clutch parts adapted to be con: trolled by the movement of said hinged member.

10. In a driving mechanism, a machine and supporting means therefor, said machine having a hinged member which is adapted to be raised and lowered, an operating shaft journaled on said hinged member, a driving shaft journaled on said machine support, a

sleeve having a swingable relation with respect to said driving shaft and extending in the direction of said operating shaft, a countershaft having a swingable relation with respect to said operating shaft and extending in the direction of said driving shaft and having a bearing and slidable relation in said sleeve, gearing for operating said counter-shaft from said driving shaft, gearing] for operating the operating shaft from said counter shaft, clutch parts arr: nged between the gearing aforesaid for controlling the transmission of power from the driving shaft to the operating shaft, said clutch parts controlled by the raising and lowering of said hinged members, and said counter shaft and sleeve being movable to adapt the same to the swinging movement of the hinged member. a

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ALIHEUS \V. ALTO'RFER. 'itnesses S. H. AL'ronFER, G. B. GEIGER. 

